FRANCE

1. ENERGY, ECONOMIC AND ELECTRICITY INFORMATION

1.1 General Overview

France is situated in Western Europe and is nearly hexagonal in shape, with an extreme length from north to south of 965 km and a maximum width of 935 km. The total area of metropolitan France, including the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean, is 552 000 km2. In addition to the European or metropolitan territory, the country includes several overseas "départements", territorial "collectivités", and overseas territories. The climate of metropolitan France is temperate, with wide regional contrasts. The average annual temperature is about 12 degrees. Precipitation is evenly distributed, averaging about 760 mm annually.

The total population is about 60 million in 2000 and the population density around 107 inhabitants per km2 (Table 1). Population growth rate is around 0.5% per annum.

TABLE 1. POPULATION INFORMATION

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

France has sizeable deposits of various metals and little fossil fuel resources. Owing to high recovery costs, production of fossil fuels has decreased to a rather low level and is not expected to provide a significant share of the country energy supply in the future. Most hydropower resources are already exploited. Therefore, the French energy policy places high emphasis on improving energy independence through the development of domestic technologies, including nuclear power, alternative energies and renewables, in order to alleviate the country vulnerability to the volatility of fossil fuel international markets and to meet the Kyoto commitments.

1.1.1. Economic Indicators

Table 2 shows the historical trend of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP growth rates in France in the recent years, was 1.1% in 1996, 1.9% in 1997 and 3.4% in 1998, 3.2% in 1999 and 3.8% in 2000 and 1.8% in 2001.

TABLE 2. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

1.1.2. Energy Situation

The French domestic energy reserves are listed in Table 3. Table 4 provides statistical data on energy and electricity supply and demand between 1960 and 2001. It illustrates the long term trend of substituting nuclear power to imported fossil fuels and the improvement of energy independence. Since 1993, primary energy consumption undergoes a slight but regular increase. Domestic production accounts for some 50% of that consumption. The energy balance improved in the last two decades, mainly due to the raise of electricity exports, that reached 68.4 TW·h in 2001. The energy intensity has lowered owing to structural changes in the economy, i.e. reduction in the share of energy intensive industries in total GDP, and to a lesser extent, to efficiency improvements.

TABLE 3. ESTIMATED ENERGY RESERVES

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

TABLE 4. ENERGY STATISTICS(*)

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

1.2. Energy Policy

During the post World War II reconstruction period, France's economic and social development relied mainly on the deployment of energy intensive industries. The rapidly increasing energy needs were partly met by domestic coal and hydropower resources. However, French domestic fossil fuel resources being limited and costly, the country had to rely heavily on imports for its energy supply. By 1973, imports were covering more than 75% of national energy consumption, compared to 38% in 1960. After the 70's oil crisis, the country was in need of better energy independence. At that time, implementation of a large nuclear power programme became a major element of France's energy policy, including also energy saving measures, efficiency improvement and research and development in the field of renewable energies. The share of nuclear power in primary energy supply increased from less than 2% in the late seventies to about one third in the mid nineties.

The main macro-economic impacts of France's energy policy are : drastic improvement in the energy trade balance, stabilization of domestic energy prices at a rather low level, increased competitiveness of French companies on international markets and deployment of a nuclear industry sector covering reactor construction and the whole of the fuel cycle. Increased awareness of environmental constraints reflects in the French energy mix, aiming to reduce the negative impacts of energy production on health and environment. In this regard, substitution of nuclear power to fossil fuel for electricity generation resulted in a drastic reduction of atmospheric emissions from the energy sector.

1.3 The Electricity System

1.3.1. Structure of the Electricity Sector

The European directives on the liberalization of the electricity market have been fully transposed into the French legislation. However the state-owned utility Electricité de France (EDF) remains the main operator for production and distribution. EDF owns and operates all nuclear and part of the fossil-fuel fired and hydro-power plants. The main other suppliers are CNR (Compagnie Nationale du Rhône, 17 TWh production in 2001) which operates most of the hydro plants along the Rhône river, SNET (Société nationale d'électricité et de thermique, 2,600 MWe installed capacity, 8TWh produced in 2000) for the coal-fired plants, SHEM (Société Hydroélectrique du Midi, 770 MWe, 2 TWh), a subsidiary of the national railway company SNCF now in trading agreement with Electrabel, and private manufacturers operating back-up or combined heat and power production units, as well as operators of small and medium size hydropower plants. More than fifty providers actually operate on the French market and fifteen percent of eligible consumers have already changed supplier.

The transmission grid operator RTE (Réseau de transport d'électricité) has been individualized inside EDF according to the European rules and manages the load dispatch system independently. An independent regulatory authority, CRE (Commission de Régulation de l'Electricité), guarantees equal access and competition to all market players. Regarding distribution activities, local authorities grant the concession of well-defined areas. There are about 200 distribution companies featuring municipality or joint ownership, with a 5% share of total electricity billing.
EDF is involved in activities in the European Union and abroad (Eastern European countries, Far East and Latin America) and is associated with foreign companies (e.g. electricity distributors in Argentina and thermal generators in Africa).

1.3.2. Decision Making Process

The General Directorate for Energy and Raw Materials (DGEMP), under the Ministry of Industry, is in charge of implementing the French government policy on energy within the framework of the European directives, in particular to ensure that public service obligations are respected. The Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development and the Minister for Health are to control health and environmental impacts of industrial facilities, including energy production and transformation plants.

EDF is the main operator in the power sector. The respective commitments between the now industrial group EDF and the government are stated in the "Contrat de Groupe", setting the objectives to be met by EDF in a given time schedule. The French government also appoints EDF's chairman.
A regulatory reform has come into operation in the course of 2002. The new regulatory authority, the DGSNR (Direction générale de la sûreté nucléaire et de la radioprotection) is in charge of both nuclear safety and radioprotection. It has taken over the former DSIN (Directorate for Nuclear Installations Safety - Direction de la Sûreté des Installations Nucléaires) and the regulatory part of OPRI (Board for Protection against Ionizing Radiation - Office de Protection contre les Rayonnements Ionisants). At the same time a new independent expert institution, the IRSN (Institute for radio-protection and nuclear safety - Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire) combining competence on nuclear safety and radiation-protection, has resulted from the merger of the former IPSN and OPRI. The secret (military) nuclear installations are also concerned by this reform.

1.3.3. Main Indicators

Table 5 shows the history of electricity production and Table 6 the energy related ratios from EEDB. At present, over 90% of France's electricity are of nuclear and hydraulic origin, the remaining 10% coming mainly from fossil fuels. Electricity demand grows in line with GDP, though at lower rate.

TABLE 5. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION AND INSTALLED CAPACITY

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

TABLE 6. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

2. NUCLEAR POWER SITUATION 1

2.1. Historical Development and current nuclear power organizational structure1

2.1.1 Overview

Historically, the development of nuclear power fell into four phases. During the 1960's, in line with the overall target of industrial independence and domestic technological development, indigenous designs were promoted (mainly natural uranium - gas cooled reactors and fast breeders). However, a PWR unit (Chooz-A) was built jointly with Belgium and a heavy water reactor in Brittany (Brennilis).

International developments in the nuclear industry led in the late sixties to the recognition that the French reactor designs could not compete with light water reactors. In 1969 the decision was made to build LWRs under license, whilst restructuring the domestic industry to improve competitiveness. Subsequently, the French government envisaged a construction program of one or two PWRs a year.

From 1974 to 1981 emphasis was put on adaptation of the Westinghouse design for the development of a French standard. The nuclear programme accelerated the pace with the 1970's oil crisis. The unit-capacity of French reactors increased from 900 MWe to 1,300 MWe and later to 1,450 MWe. France developed and implemented, in parallel with the nuclear power plant program, a strong domestic fuel cycle industry, built upon the infrastructure originally established by CEA.

In 1981, Framatome terminated its license with Westinghouse and negotiated a new agreement, giving greater autonomy. Framatome developed a wide range of servicing expertise and capabilities in reactor operation and maintenance services. In the same year, France had to adapt its energy policy to a lower than expected economic growth, together with the occurrence of over-capacity in the national electricity supply system. The achievement of the 1450 MWe N4 model was the landmark for a totally autonomous French reactor design.

2.1.2 Current Organizational Chart(s)

Nuclear Power organizational Chart

Government authorities :
DGEMP (General Directorate for Energy and Raw Materials), Ministry of Industry
DGSNR (General Directorate for Nuclear Safety and Radioprotection), Ministries of Industry, Health and Ecology and Sustainable Development
DRIRE (Regional Directorates for Industry, Research and Environment)

Expert institution:
IRSN (Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety Institute)
Research and development:
CEA (Atomic Energy Commission)

Nuclear power plants operator:
EDF (Electricité de France)

Nuclear plants construction :
Framatome-ANP, Jeumont, Alstom

Fuel cycle industry, including engineering and services : AREVA group
Mining : Cogema
Conversion : Comurhex
Enrichment: Eurodif
Fuel fabrication : Framatome, (UO), Cogema (MOX)
Reprocessing and packaging: Cogema

Used fuel storage:
ANDRA

The chart is developed in chapters 4 and 5.

2.2. Nuclear Power Plants: Status and Operations

The share of nuclear power in the French electricity supply has reached its technical and economic maximum, amounting to about 63,000 MWe. It consists of fifty-nine units, fifty-eight being pressurized water reactors (thirty four 900 MWe, twenty 1300 MWe, and four 1450's), all constructed by the French manufacturer Framatome, and the 230 MWe fast breeder reactor, Phenix.

The nuclear plants accounts for 401 TWh in 2001 (over 75% of total electricity production), setting France the world's second largest nuclear power producer. Table 7 lists the status of the power plants as of year-end 2001. Nuclear power generation represents about one third of total primary energy supply, and over 80% of the domestic energy production, making EDF by far the number one nuclear operator and the first electricity producer in the world.

TABLE 7. STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Source: IAEA Power Reactor Information System as of 31 December 2002.

TABLE 7. CONTINUED, STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Source: IAEA Power Reactor Information System as of 31 December 2002.

TABLE 7. CONTINUED, STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS